Written Answers

Thursday 6 July 2000

Scottish Executive

Community Care

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards introducing legislation in respect of carers.

Iain Gray: Under our Strategy for Carers in Scotland we set up a Carers’ Legislation Working Group to consider proposals for new legislation to support carers. The group has been meeting since February and its recommendations will be consulted upon later this year. Legislation will be introduced as soon as possible.

Defence Estates

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Her Majesty's Government’s Defence Estates.

Henry McLeish: Scottish Executive officials last met representatives of the UK Government`s Defence Estates on 7 June at the launch of the Ministry of Defence’s Estate Strategy.

Education

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from parents’ representative bodies, the teaching profession or local authorities in relation to any difficulties caused by the requirements for minimum class sizes.

Mr Sam Galbraith: We have not received representations from parents’ representative bodies or unions about difficulties encountered in meeting the minimum class size target for P1 to P3. The Scottish Executive is working with education authorities to see how Excellence Fund resources of £48.2 million can best be utilised to ensure that the target is met while maintaining parental choice.

Education

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with parents’ bodies, the teaching profession and local authorities the benefits of introducing flexibility in minimum class sizes.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Authorities have flexibility at local level in deciding how Excellence Funding of £48.2 million is directed towards meeting the target that all children in P1 to P3 are taught in classes with a 1:30 teacher to pupil ratio by August 2001, while maintaining parental choice.

Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5363 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 29 March 2000, whether it will provide details of the review of the first year of Higher Still implementation.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Henry McLeish and I have decided that this review should cover the impact of Higher Still on teaching and learning, on the curriculum, the workloads of teaching staff and students, assessment – both internal and external - and staff development and other support provided to schools and colleges. However, the content is not fixed as we wish to respond to feedback from those affected by the reforms.

  This review provides us with the opportunity to learn the lessons from the past year, to identify those areas where improvement is required, and to ensure that the Higher Still programme goes from strength to strength in future years.

  We will take account of all the evidence that is submitted to us, including a recent report on implementation in further education, surveys of the views of pupils, parents and employers, and feedback from teaching unions and education authorities.

  It will also be vital to know the views of individual teachers who have the essential role of implementing the Higher Still programme in schools. We will therefore be commissioning an independent survey of teachers’ views on how the first year of implementation has gone, before compiling the final review report. We are prepared to extend the period for compiling and publishing the report beyond the original target of the autumn, in order to conduct this important survey, and ensure that the review is comprehensive, balanced, representative and objective.

Environment

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects publication of the report of the Verification Visit carried out by the European Commission in terms of Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty.

Sarah Boyack: The European Commission’s report of its visit to Scotland last year was published today. I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

  Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty gives the European Commission a right of access to facilities necessary for continuous monitoring of the level of radioactivity in the air, water and soil. The Commission’s Verification Visit found the situation to be broadly satisfactory, but identified a number of areas where further action is being taken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Fisheries

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on any cash purchases of shellfish by foreign buyers at Scottish ports.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive gathers information on weight and value of fish landed. Information on buyers and method of purchase is not recorded centrally.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission in relation to the enforced discard of quantities of prime saithe or coley.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Executive has made clear in its dealings with the European Commission that it is committed to reducing discards of all species. The new EC technical conservation Regulation which came into force on 1 January this year introduced new measures to reduce discarding. Furthermore I am introducing new measures shortly which will reduce discards of juvenile haddock and whiting.

  The lack of UK quota for saithe means that the issue is more apparent for this stock. However, the stock is not in good condition and there is good reason to avoid management measures, such as permitting landing of over-quota fish, which would encourage the targeting of this species. Any reallocation of the stock between member states would, of course, jeopardise the principle of Relative Stability, the basis used to allocate catches between countries. The Scottish Industry have made very clear the extreme importance they attach to the maintenance of this principle.

Genetically Modified Crops

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8099 by Ross Finnie on 20 June 2000, what was the specific scientific advice which it was given to allow the farm scale GM crop trial at Daviot to continue.

Ross Finnie: I referred to the specific scientific advice in my answer to question S1W-8099.

  I was advised that the scientific merit of the trial had not been compromised primarily because the contaminant in the control crop would not be treated with the herbicide to which it is tolerant and would therefore behave in every respect like the other conventional rape plants in the trial. I was also advised that any gene flow from the trial crop would be distinguishable from that of the contaminant which expresses a different genetically modified trait. The combination of this advice and the views of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Food Standards Agency that the contaminated crop does not give rise to any safety implications for either the environment or human health were fundamental to my decision that the Daviot trial should proceed.

Genetically Modified Crops

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following recent reports in the French press about the possible GM contamination of French maize crops, what action is being taken to check whether Scottish crops are affected.

Ross Finnie: As I said during the Rural Affairs Committee meeting on 4 July, we have been in contact with the French authorities since learning that they had discovered low levels (below 1%) of GM presence in conventional maize seed imported into France. They confirmed on 30 June that they had found some GM seed in conventional maize seed, which has been sown in south west France. Three different modifications have been found in a number of varieties of forage maize imported into France by the company Golden Harvest. These are BT 176 and BT 11, and one further, as yet unidentified, modification. BT 176 is insect resistant and has Part C consent within the EU under Directive 90/220 for import, food and feed use, and for cultivation. BT 11 is insect resistant and has Part C consent for import and use in animal feed.

  The French authorities have not yet confirmed which varieties of maize seed are involved, but have confirmed that sweetcorn varieties are not affected. We are seeking further information from France on the varieties concerned. However, as I also stated to the Rural Affairs Committee, it is very unlikely that they would be suitable for cultivation in Scottish conditions.

Health

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has endorsed an amended timescale for completion of the Acute Services Review in Tayside.

Susan Deacon: The timescale of the Acute Services Review is a matter for the health board to consider. The Executive is keen, however, to see the review completed as soon as is practicable.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing, in the light of the interim report of the task force set up to oversee the management of NHS services in Tayside, to address any current problems being faced by Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Susan Deacon: The focus of the interim report is on the diagnosis of the problems and it is for the Trusts and health boards to work with the task force to address them. However, as I announced on 30 June, I intend to put in place additional management support to bolster the senior team within Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, to help them drive forward change and improvement.

Health Promotion

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to promote public health in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The promotion of public health is being progressed through a wide range of measures which seek to improve life circumstances, to address lifestyles and to target priority health topics, with an overarching aim of reducing health inequalities. These measures are developing from the White Paper, Towards a Healthier Scotland , which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 3036).

  The Healthy Scotland Convention, which brings together key partners from a range of sectors, met on 3 July to review working arrangements and how they might be enhanced to reinforce the delivery of this agenda. Particular attention was given to the options for maximising the benefit from the additional £26 million that the Scottish Executive has announced that it intends to invest to further boost work in this area.

Health Promotion

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the Starting Well initiative for expectant mothers, babies and toddlers.

Susan Deacon: Responsibility for delivering the Starting Well demonstration project has been allocated to a team led by the Glasgow Healthy City Partnership. The team is currently making the necessary preparatory arrangements, with the aim of formally commencing the project in the next couple of months.

Justice

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the Scottish Court Service for 2000-01.

Mr Jim Wallace: The targets I have set for the Scottish Court Service (SCS) are shown in the table below.

  Scottish Court Service Targets 2000-01

  


Target No


Brief Description 
of target


Proposed Target 
2000-01




1


No case should fall as a result 
of statutory time limits being breached


0




2


% diets in Court of Session allocated 
within time limits set by the Lord President


93%




3


% criminal appeals allocated 
to roll within time limits set by the Lord Justice General


60%




4


weighted average waiting period 
for summary cases in the Sheriff Courts


12 weeks




5


weighted average waiting period 
for civil cases in the Sheriff Courts


12 weeks




6


weighted average summary criminal 
trial lack of time adjournments


5%




7


% achievement of administrative 
standards in the Supreme Courts


95%




8


% achievement of administrative 
standards in the Sheriff Courts


95%




9


% Courthouses meeting "Coming 
to Court" standard


87%




10


Cost of staff, accommodation 
etc, per sitting day


£950

Legislation

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Executive intends to bring forward proposals to change the law in relation to stalking and harassment.

Mr Jim Wallace: We are committed to reviewing the law in relation to harassment and stalking by 2001. To that end, we launched a consultation exercise in March this year, and are now analysing the responses. We will discuss our proposals in the Parliament as soon as possible.

Local Government Finance

Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any local authority is likely to be capped this year.

Mr Jack McConnell: No. Most authorities have budgeted within guideline this year. Eight authorities have set budgets in excess of the guideline but most have done so by a very small amount. In the case of Aberdeenshire and East Dunbartonshire Councils, we allowed them to continue to budget over guideline this year, on the basis that they would return to guideline in subsequent years.

Parliamentary Questions

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4422 by Mr Jack McConnell on 1 March 2000, when it expects to make available to the Parliament a report on the cost of answering parliamentary questions.

Mr Jack McConnell: The main part of the study into the costs of answering parliamentary questions has now been completed. However, the data collected over the survey period is still being analysed and it will not be possible to complete the study before the summer recess. Rather than publish the report during recess, we now plan to make this available when Parliament reconvenes.

Pig Industry

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and major retailers regarding the labelling of "Country of Origin" on pigmeat products.

Ross Finnie: I have discussed the benefits of identifying the origin of pigmeat and pigmeat products, which in this country are produced to very high welfare and health standards, with Nick Brown, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on various occasions.

  I have also drawn these attributes to the attention of the major retailers I have met. I strongly support the introduction of a Scottish Pork label, which would enable the consumer to make an informed choice.

Pig Industry

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Rural Affairs last met with representatives of the Scottish pig industry and what is the current state of the pig sector.

Ross Finnie: I met representatives of the Scottish pig industry at the Royal Highland Show where representations were made about the need to introduce the special aid measures for this sector as soon as possible. This is being pursued urgently with the European Commission. The state of the industry has been helped by an increase in the price of pigmeat from 60p per kilo at the height of the crisis to just over £1.00 per kilo currently.

Post Offices

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or intends to take, in the light of the recent announcement made by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on Post Offices.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive welcomes the measures proposed by the UK Government to modernise the Post Office network. The role envisaged for the Post Office fits in well with the Executive`s commitments to rural communities and to addressing the needs of socially excluded people in both urban and rural areas.

  We will be looking at all of the recommendations in the report prepared by the Performance and Innovation Unit of the Cabinet Office and considering how we can assist the UK Government in taking them forward in Scotland. We will also be considering whether any services provided by the Executive or its agencies might be supplied in future by the Post Office network.

Prison Service

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the Scottish Prison Service as an agency for 2000-01.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table shows the targets which I have set the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service for 2000-01, together with the service's performance against targets in previous years.

  

 
 

1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000


2000-01




The number of prisoners unlawfully 
at large



















Category "A" prisoners


Target
Outturn


0
0


0
0


0
0


0




Category "B" prisoners


Target
 
Outturn


1.7 per 1,000
= 11
1


1.0 per 1,000
= 6
2


0.8 per 1,000
= 5
2


0.7 per 1,000
= 4




Category "C" prisoners


Target
 
Outturn


2 per 1,000
= 13
0


1.6 per 1,000
= 10
0


1.3 per
1,000
= 8
3


1 per 1,000
= 6




The number of serious assaults 
on staff


Target
 
Outturn


3 per 1,000
=14
18


3 per 1,000
= 14
17


2.8 per 1,000
= 15
14


2.7 per 1,000
= 14




The number of serious assaults 
on prisoners


Target
Outturn


<127

108


<108

129


<129

92


<15 per 1,000 
= 
91




x number of prisoners complete 
programme to address offending behaviour


Target
Outturn



7261



7971


850
890


850




% of available prisoner places 
with access to night sanitation


Target
Outturn


70
70


71
71


76
75


76




Average annual cost per prisoner 
place


Target
Outturn


28,317
26,170


27,904
26,912


28,761
28,3752


29,500




Number of injuries reportable 
to the Health and Safety Executive3


Target
Outturn



124



131



112


124




  Notes:

  1. Total for cognitive skills and sex offending programmes.

  2. Subject to audit.

  3. New target, replacing target of number of staff days lost through sickness.

Public Sector

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with its policy on the location and relocation of public service jobs in Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: We have already announced the establishment of the Food Standards Agency in Aberdeen, and have completed the relocation of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department of the Scottish Executive to Glasgow. The First Minister's answer of 15 September 1999 (S1W-1558, Mr Duncan McNeil MSP) set out the criteria we would use for determining the location and relocation of public sector jobs. The answer stressed the importance of operational effectiveness and of costs, and the need to take account of the position of the staff concerned; and it highlighted circumstances in which we would address alternative locations outside Edinburgh for blocks of work.

  We will be considering during this summer whether a number of bodies covered by the policy which occupy premises in Edinburgh with a property breakpoint arising by 2004 meet the relocation criteria, and whether we should then proceed to scrutinise options in greater detail. In doing so we will have regard to the aims of the policy and the position of staff, and we will seek the views of their trade union representatives and of the management of each organisation. At all times we will ensure that the interests of Scotland as a whole, the efficiency of government, and the delivery of high quality services to the public are central to our consideration. We will be undertaking preliminary examinations of these organisations' circumstances in order to consider whether the option of relocation should be examined further or in detail. We will make a further announcement about the conclusions of this preliminary work in the autumn. Thereafter, we will examine on a case-by-case basis those bodies it is appropriate to include in such an analysis. In the course of any detailed appraisals that follow there will be opportunities for representations to be made about different locations. There will also be full consultation with the organisations concerned and with the relevant trades unions. The organisations concerned are as follows:

  The Common Services Agency of the National Health Service in Scotland

  The Crown Office Management Services Group

  The Health Education Board for Scotland

  Registers of Scotland

  The Scottish Arts Council

  The Scottish Council for Post-Graduate Medical and Dental Education

  The Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporter's Unit

  The Scottish Public Pensions Agency

  Sportscotland

  The First Minister's answer indicated a presumption against an Edinburgh location for new bodies. We will therefore also be examining where to locate two new bodies which are in the course of establishment. These are the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council. The presumption against location in Edinburgh also applies to the formation of the Public Guardian's Office from the Office of the Accountant of Court.

  Finally, a scientific review has been initiated to investigate the feasibility of locating the scientific work of the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency at a site adjacent to the Scottish Crop Research Institute near Dundee. Should this study suggest that such a move would be feasible, then the agency would be considered along the same lines as the other existing organisations listed above.

  Our aim is to take the policy forward in an open, careful and systematic way, and thereby ensure that the process of Government, the services we provide and the interests of Scotland benefit from sound decisions about the location of the Executive's work.

Rail Network

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the shadow Strategic Rail Authority.

Sarah Boyack: I last met the Chief Executive of the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority on 26 June.

Road Safety

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to reduce the risk of children living in disadvantaged areas being involved in road accidents, following its Central Research Unit’s findings in Road Accidents and Children Living in Disadvantaged Areas.

Sarah Boyack: I refer Dr Jackson to the reply I gave to question S1W-6570.

Road Safety

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities on the recent "Safer Routes to School" funding in the light of its Central Research Unit report of Road Accidents and Children Living in Disadvantaged Areas .

Sarah Boyack: The letter sent out by the Scottish Executive to local authorities informing them of the extra funding for "Safer Routes to School" drew their attention to the research report and suggested that they might take it into account in making decisions on the implementation of specific measures.

Roads

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been made available to local authorities to ensure that the necessary funds are available to strengthen bridges in order to comply with EU regulations for higher gross weight lorries.

Sarah Boyack: Scottish Executive support for local authorities’ capital expenditure on roads and transport is included within the single allocation under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 which covers all non-housing capital programmes. It is for local authorities to prioritise upgrading of bridges to meet the 40-tonne EC standard and allocate the necessary funding from the resources available to them.

Rural Affairs

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake research into any impact of the Protection Of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill on traditional equestrian events such as Common Ridings, agricultural shows and point-to-points.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to commission any further research on the Protection of Mammals (Scotland) Bill. It will be for the Rural Affairs Committee, as the lead committee which will consider the Bill, to determine whether any further research is required.

Schools

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce regulations which would allow procedures to be established to examine properly the suitability and content of literature distributed to children within the vicinity of schools.

Peter Peacock: The Executive has no such plans.

  Schools already have a duty of care in common law with a particular responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of pupils.

  If a Headteacher has cause to be concerned about the activity of groups or individuals in the vicinity of a school he/she will take appropriate action, in line with local authority policies and procedures, involving the police where appropriate, e.g. if there is a threat to public order.

Schools

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who was consulted over the recently authorised decision to close Langlands, Melrose, Glenhead, Abronhill, Whitelees, St Joseph’s and Sacred Heart Primary Schools in Cumbernauld earlier than previously scheduled.

Peter Peacock: We have no information as to who North Lanarkshire Council may have consulted on this matter.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the £23.64 million used to fund the Skye Bridge was public money.

Sarah Boyack: The information requested is in Parts 3 and 4 of the National Audit Office Report on the Skye Bridge published on 23 May 1997.

Transport

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding will be made available to create a "ghost island" on the A83 opposite the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive do not intend to fund the provision of a "ghost island" on the A83 opposite the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

Transport

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop transport infrastructure in the Glasgow area.

Sarah Boyack: We plan to spend around £31 million on motorways and trunk roads in Glasgow in the period to 31 March 2002, and £17.5 million, via the Public Transport Fund, on bus priority measures, the Partick Interchange and improved train rolling stock.

Young People

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to support young people in their transition from education to the workplace.

Nicol Stephen: Measures include guidance to schools on the curriculum, practical training for young people through work experience programmes and a range of enterprise education initiatives in schools. The Careers Service offers impartial information, advice and guidance on careers, education opportunities, job vacancies and work-based training such as Skillseekers and Modern Apprenticeships.